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Online IACP Research Conference - Supporting Lives, Sustaining Ourselves: Exploring Attachment, Suicidality and Burnout
Following the great success of IACP’s inaugural online Research Conference in June 2023, we are very happy to invite IACP members to attend this year’s conference - Supporting Lives, Sustaining Ourselves: Exploring Attachment, Suicidality and Burnout. This is a free event open to all members. The excellent feedback from the conference last year also indicated an appetite for the event to be online again, easing accessibility for members throughout the country.
We are delighted to have Dr Una McCluskey as our keynote speaker, presenting research on the dynamics of attachment in adult life; pre-accredited IACP member Leo Muckley presenting research on experiences of working with actively suicidal clients and Dr Stephanie Finan (MIACP) presenting research on psychotherapists’ experiences of burnout. There will be a Q&A slot after each presentation, breakout rooms for small group discussion and a wider discussion at the end with the panel. See below for the Conference outline.
The Research Conference is facilitated by IACP’s Research Committee Chair – Aisling O’Connor and Vice Chair Dr Caitriona Kinsella.
Keynote: Dr Una McCluskey “Exploring the Dynamics of Attachment in Adult life”
Presenter's Bio:
Una McCluskey DPhil is a retired Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow at the University of York and a retired clinical member of the UKCP. She is currently working with and training professionals in the caring professions in the clinical application of attachment theory. She is best known for her research into affect attunement in the field of adult psychotherapy. Through this research she discovered that the ‘offer to treat’ can arouse the dynamics of attachment in both the careseeker and the caregiver. By extensive analysis of video material of interaction, she discovered that the assuagement of careseeking required a particular response from the caregiver. This dynamic she called ‘Goal-Corrected Empathic Attunement’ (GCEA). This has proved to be a significant development in guiding attachment-based practitioners in their work. GCEA provides a theory of interaction for adult psychotherapy which is based on extensive investigation of early childhood development and her own and others’ research. In line with the original work of Dr John Bowlby on goal-corrected systems, and subsequently the work of Dr Dorothy Heard and Dr Brian Lake, she has developed a model of practice titled ‘Exploratory Goal-Corrected Psychotherapy (EGCP)’.
She is known nationally and internationally for her contribution to theory and practice in relation to the Dynamics of Attachment in Adult Life and has developed a clinical application of attachment theory for use with individuals, couples, families, groups and organisations known as the McCluskey Model.
Second Presentation : Leo Muckley “Pluralistic Psychotherapists' and Counsellors' Experiences of Working with Actively Suicidal Clients”
Presenter's Bio:
Leo Muckley is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with in-person practices in Glengarriff and Skibbereen, West Cork, and he also works online. He practices through a Pluralistic framework and philosophy and has a particular expertise and interest in working with clients challenged by presenting issues around childhood abuse, suicide and trauma. Leo’s research into practitioner’s experiences of working with actively suicidal clients was published in the Counselling and Psychotherapy Research journal in May 2024. He frequently designs and facilitates bespoke talks, plenary sessions and tutorials for colleges and organisations on his areas of interest. Leo has a passion for mindfulness and meditation and runs a unique “Practical Mindfulness" 8 week course online which is affordable and can be counted as CPD. Leo enjoys writing and currently writes a monthly mental health column for the West Cork People newspaper.
He is involved in a research team working on a paper regarding relational depth and he hopes to continue his own research journey in the near future to research client’s experiences of psychotherapy and counselling for challenges around suicide. Leo has found that client’s voices are rarely given a platform in policy making which is frequently based on research. He strongly believes in the power of disseminating knowledge and research and the value which lived experiences can bring to the same.
Third Presentation: Dr Stephanie Finan “What it Costs us – Exploring Psychotherapists’ Experiences of Burnout”
Presenter's Bio:
Stephanie Finan is an Assistant Professor at Dublin City University where she is a lecturer on post-graduate programmes. She is also a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor in Galway City. Her research interests lie in qualitative research, burnout and clinical supervision.
Conference Outline:
- 10.00 - 10.15 - Welcome and Introductions
- 10.15 -11.00 Keynote – Dr Una McCluskey (35 mins plus 10 for discussion)
- 11.00 -11.45 Second Presentation – Leo Muckley (35 mins plus 10 for discussion)
- 11.45 -12.00 Break
- 12.00 -12.45 Third Presentation – Dr Stephanie Finan (35 mins plus 10 for discussion)
- 12.45 - 13.15: Breakout rooms to share thoughts in smaller groups with questions to consider
- 13.15 - 14.00: Wider discussion with panel and close of event
This conference is facilitated by IACP Research Committee Chair Aisling O’Connor and Vice Chair Dr Caitriona Kinsella.
Please note the conference will be recorded and content will be used in the future on the IACP Online CPD Portal. If you wish not to be recorded, please keep your video off.
CPD Certs will be emailed to participants after attendance at the Conference.
The Zoom Link and Password for the Conference will be sent at least a day or 2 in advance of the Event
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